Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders
Building a Healthier Relationship With Food and Body
Many children, teens, and young adults struggle with food, eating habits, or body image at some point. Even without a formal eating disorder diagnosis, these struggles can still significantly impact stress, mood, health, and daily life. This is often referred to as disordered eating, and it’s more common than many people realize.
At Pikes Peak Family Counseling, we support clients experiencing disordered eating, body image concerns, and mild to moderate eating disorders. When a higher level of care is needed, we help families coordinate with medical providers, nutritionists, and specialized programs to ensure clients receive the right level of support and care.
Disordered eating can look different for everyone. It may include skipping meals, frequent dieting, strict food rules, guilt after eating, overeating, avoiding eating around others, over-exercising, or constantly worrying about weight, food, or body image. Often these patterns develop gradually and can become stressful, overwhelming, or difficult to manage alone.
When Additional Support May Help
Some signs that additional support could be helpful include:
Skipping meals or avoiding eating
Changes in weight or eating habits
Mood swings, fatigue, or dizziness
Avoiding meals with family or friends
Excessive exercise
Increased anxiety, withdrawal, or isolation
Constant focus on food, weight, or body image
These signs don’t always mean there is an eating disorder, but they often indicate that extra support could be helpful.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy can help clients build more balanced eating patterns, reduce anxiety and guilt around food, improve body image and self-esteem, and develop healthier ways to cope with stress and emotions. We often work closely with families and coordinate care with doctors, dietitians, and other providers when appropriate.
Many families are not sure when disordered eating becomes something to get help for. Therapy can provide a space to talk about concerns, understand patterns, and decide what kind of support, if any, would be helpful moving forward. When you feel ready, reaching out for a conversation can be a helpful first step.
Disordered eating and eating disorders are very treatable, especially when addressed early, and the right support can make a meaningful difference in long-term health and well-being.
